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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration
Program Update March 2002
Table of
Contents
Assistant Director Comments 1
Staff Directory, Federal Aid, Washington Office 2
Federal Aid Program Overview 3
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities 6
State Audits 6
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Tier-Two Grants 6
Federal Aid Information Management System 7
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation 7
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 8
Multistate Conservation Grant Program 8
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program 10
Clean Vessel Act Pumpout Grant Program 10
Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program 11
State Wildlife Grants and the Landowner Incentive Program 12
Federal Aid National Training Program 12
Appendices 13
FWS photo: Tupper Ansel Blake
1 March 2002
Assistant
Director’s
Comments
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s
Federal Aid Program is changing.
While the Division of Federal Aid
continues to execute its day-to-day
management responsibility for more
than $500 million in Sport Fish
and Wildlife Restoration Program
grants, it has expanded its efforts
in three specific areas: development
of newly assigned grant programs,
improving State audit measures,
and expanding the capabilities of
the Federal Aid Information
Management System (FAIMS).
In Fiscal Year 2002, the Division
is implementing two new grant
programs—the $80 million State
Wildlife Grants Program and the
$40 million Landowner Incentive
Program. These new Programs
complement the $50 million Wildlife
Conservation and Restoration
Program (WCRP), authorized and
appropriated by Congress in Fiscal
Year 2001. In the case of the State
Wildlife Grants Program, Federal
funds will be provided to State
agencies for conservation of the full
array of wildlife in the State. The
Landowner Incentive Program will
deliver conservation through State
agencies and by landowners to benefit
endangered, threatened, and species
at risk. As it did with WCRP, the
Service is coordinating closely with
State wildlife agencies and the
International Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA), to
establish efficient procedures for
their implementation.
The transfer of authority for
conducting State audits from the
Defense Contracting Audit Agency to
the Department of Interior Office of
Inspector General (OIG) was a time
consuming but ultimately successful
activity for the Division during the
reporting period. To improve the
next cycle of audits, the Division
mounted an effort to collect
information from the Service’s seven
regional offices, the States, and
from completed audits. Based on
information developed by a team of
State representatives, the Division
published in the Federal Register
six new draft chapters destined to
become the Service Manual chapters
on audit policy and procedure. These
efforts will improve the process as
we begin the second audit cycle
working cooperatively with the OIG.
FAIMS is the electronic backbone
of the Division’s grants management
financial tracking and reporting
activities. The future refinement
and development of FAIMS is being
guided by seven User Acceptance
Teams, including one team of
representatives from State agencies.
The Division is nearing the point
where it will be able to provide its
grant recipients direct access to
FAIMS data and reports through
the Internet. Improvements in
FAIMS are in keeping with the
Department of the Interior’s
e-Government initiative.
As I pledged last year, improvements
are being made in the delivery of
services to you, our customer. As
we look forward to the next few
years, we see many challenges, but
challenges bring opportunities and
Federal Aid is ready.
March 2002 2
Federal Aid
Staff Directory
Washington
Office
Tim Hess, Wildlife Conservation and
Restoration Program, Sport Fish
Restoration Program, Landowner
Incentive Program, State Wildlife
Grants, Regions 3 & 5
Chris McKay (Internal Partner with
RBFF) Multistate Conservation
Grant Program
Brian Bohnsack, Wildlife Restoration
Program, Coastal Wetlands, Clean
Vessel Program, Regions 1 & 2
Branch of Audits and
Cash Management
Lanny Moore, Branch Chief, Audits,
Cash Management
Ord Bargerstock, Systems Accountant,
Regions 4 & 5, Audit Resolution
Pat McHugh, Systems Accountant,
Regions 3, 6, & 7, Audit Program
Oversight
Kate Gilliam, Systems Accountant,
Regions 1 & 2, Lessons Learned,
Future Audit Plans
Branch of Surveys
Sylvia Cabrera, Branch Chief,
National Survey of Fishing Hunting
and Wildlife Associated Recreation
Richard Aiken, Economist,
National Survey
Genevieve Pullis, Economist,
National Survey
Branch of Training
Steve Leggans, Branch Chief
Blake Weirich, Assistant Training
Coordinator
Julie Schroyer, Administrative Analyst
Kris E. LaMontagne, Division Chief
Larry Bandolin, Deputy Division Chief,
Operations
Cheri Morgan, Lead Secretary
Jimmye Kane, Secretary
Branch of Budget and
Administration
Tom Jeffrey, Branch Chief, Budget
Development and Execution,
Program Management, Special
Projects
Mary Jones, Administrative Officer
Linda Muhammad, Program Support
Assistant (Property, Purchasing,
Acquisition, FFS, and FAIMS entry
and tracking)
Branch of Information Management
Bill Conlin, Branch Chief, Information
Resources and ADP Management,
ADP Support, (FAIMS)
Jeffrey Graves, Server Support,
Web Site Support
David Washington, ADP Systems
Support, ADP Acquisition Support
Lorinda Bennett, Fiscal Management,
Audit Liaison
Branch of Grants Operations
and Policy
Gary Reinitz, Branch Chief, National
Issue Management, Boating
Infrastructure Grant Program,
Regions 4 & 7
Jack Hicks, Regulation, U. S. Fish
and Wildlife Service Manual,
Hunter/Aquatic Education, Section 6
Grants, Region 6
FWS photo: Tupper Ansel Blake
3 March 2002
Federal Aid
Program
Overview
The goal of the Federal Aid Program
is to strengthen the ability of State
and Territorial fish and wildlife
agencies to meet effectively the
consumptive and non-consumptive
needs of the public for fish and
wildlife resources. The Federal
Aid Program is responsible for
administering the following
programs:
Wildlife Restoration
Sport Fish Restoration
Clean Vessel Pumpout
Boating Infrastructure Grant
National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant
Wildlife Conservation and
Restoration
Multistate Conservation Grant
State Wildlife Grants
Landowner Incentive Program
In addition, Federal Aid provides
grant management support for
endangered species traditional section
6, Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)
Land Acquisition, HCP Planning,
and Recovery Land Acquisition
Grant Programs.
The Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act was approved by
Congress on September 2, 1937, and
began functioning on July 1, 1938.
The purpose of this Act is to provide
funding for the selection, restoration,
rehabilitation, and improvement of
wildlife habitat, wildlife management
and research, and the distribution of
information produced by the projects.
Congress amended the Act October
23, 1970, to include funding for
hunter training programs and
the development, operation, and
maintenance of public target ranges.
Funds are derived from an 11 percent
Federal excise tax on sporting arms,
ammunition, and archery equipment,
and a 10 percent tax on handguns.
Additional funds are also collected
from a 12.4 percent tax on archery
equipment. These funds are
apportioned each year to the States
and Territories (except Washington,
D.C.) by the Department of the
Interior on the basis of formulas
set forth in the Act. The Wildlife
and Sport Fish Programs
Improvement Act of 2000 added
Puerto Rico as eligible to receive
hunter education funds.
The Federal Aid in Sport Fish
Restoration Act, commonly referred
to as the Dingell-Johnson Act,
was passed on August 9, 1950. It
was modeled after the Federal Aid
in Wildlife Restoration Act to
create a parallel program for fish
management, conservation, and
restoration. The Program is funded
by a 10 percent Federal excise tax on
fishing rods, reels, creels, lures, flies,
and artificial baits, and a 3 percent tax
on electronic fishing motors and sonar
fish finders. These funds are also
apportioned each year to the States
and Territories by the Department of
the Interior on the basis of a formula
set forth in the Act.
March 2002 4
The Clean Vessel Act was passed in
1992 to help reduce pollution from
vessel sewage discharges. The Act
established a Federal grant program
to the States to be administered by
the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) and funded at $10 million
annually by the Sport Fish
Restoration Account of the Aquatic
Resources Trust Fund. Federal
funds can reimburse up to 75 percent
of all approved project costs with
the remaining funds provided by
the States or marinas. Grants
are available to the States on a
competitive basis for the construction
and/or renovation, operation, and
maintenance of pumpout and portable
toilet dump stations. After States
submit grant proposals to the Service
for review, the Service’s Division of
Federal Aid then convenes a panel
including representatives from
the Division’s Washington Office
(WO), the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the
Environmental Protection Agency,
and the U.S. Coast Guard to rank
proposals. Awards are made shortly
afterward. The Act was reauthorized
by the Transportation Equity Act for
the 21st Century (TEA21) through
Fiscal Year 2003.
The Boating Infrastructure Grant
(BIG) Program provides $32 million
over four years (2000–2003) for
grants to the States and Territories,
local governments, and private
marinas. The purpose of the grants is
to encourage States, in cooperation
with local and private interests,
to install, renovate, and maintain
tie-up facilities for non-trailerable
recreational boats. The Sport Fishing
and Boating Partnership Council and
Service panel annually recommends
grants for funding to the Service.
The Coastal Wetlands Planning,
Protection and Restoration Act is
funded by 18 percent of the Sport
Fish Restoration Account or 100
percent of the excise tax on small
engine fuel (whichever is greater).
The Program provides 15 percent of
the funds (not to exceed $15 million)
for the National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant Program. The
Service provides Coastal Wetlands
Grants to States and Territories
for coastal wetlands acquisition,
restoration, and enhancement.
Congress reauthorized the Coastal
Wetlands Planning, Protection and
Restoration Act in November 2000
through Fiscal Year 2009.
WCRP was authorized by Congress
in 2000 and implemented in Fiscal
Year 2001. State and Territorial fish
and wildlife agencies are encouraged
to participate with the Federal
Government, other State agencies,
wildlife conservation organizations,
and outdoor recreation and
conservation interests through
cooperative planning and
implementation of WCRP. Wildlife
conservation, wildlife conservation
education, and wildlife-associated
recreation activities are all eligible
for funding. Public input and
participation is actively sought
by the States in conducting this
Program. The Program was funded
with $50 million for Fiscal Year 2001
with the funds being apportioned to
the States and Territories by formula.
The Multistate Conservation Grant
Program was authorized under the
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration
Programs Improvement Act of 2000.
It can award up to $6 million annually,
half of the funds coming from each
of the Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Programs. These grants
must benefit half of the States, the
majority of States in a Service
Region, or a regional association of
State fish and game departments. In
Fiscal Years 2001 and 2002, the full
amount was issued in grants.
Section 6 of the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 established a grant
program available to any State
agency or agencies, or other
government entities, with authority
to conserve resident species of
fish and wildlife or plants deemed
threatened or endangered.
Prerequisites for participation in
grants under section 6 are that a
State establishes and maintains an
adequate and active program for
the conservation of endangered and
threatened species and has entered
into a cooperative agreement
with the Secretary of the Interior.
The State must also meet the
requirements for an adequate and
active program described in 50 CFR
81 and the Service Manual, chapter
521 FW 4.
5 March 2002
For Fiscal Year 2002, the traditional
section 6 grant program was funded
at $7.52 million. These funds are
distributed among the Regions based
on the number of “counted” species
found within the States in the Region.
A Regional competition is then
conducted among the States within
that Region. Additional section 6
programs were funded as follows
for Fiscal Year 2002: HCP Land
Acquisition, $61.3 million; HCP
Planning, $6.65 million; Recovery
Land Acquisition, $17.759; and $3
million for administration. Funds are
awarded for these programs on a
competitive basis. Two section 6 grant
programs funded in Fiscal Year 2001,
Safe Harbor and Candidate
Conservation Planning, were not
funded in Fiscal Year 2002. For
traditional section 6 grants, the
Federal share is 75 percent, but can
go up to 90 percent when two or more
States cooperate on an eligible grant.
The State Wildlife Grants and
Landowner Incentive Programs were
initiated through the Department of
the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2002. This Act
included $85 million for a State
Wildlife Grants Program and $40
million for a Landowner Incentive
Program. Only State agencies and
Tribes are eligible. The State Wildlife
Grants Program is formula-based
and is intended to fund a wide range
of projects to benefit wildlife species
with the greatest conservation
need. The Tribal portion of the
State Wildlife Grants Program
will be competitively awarded. The
Landowner Incentive Program
awards grants to States and Federally
recognized Tribes on a competitive
basis with the funds going to support
technical and financial assistance to
landowners for the protection and
management of habitat to benefit
Federally listed, proposed, or
candidate species or other at-risk
species on private lands. Federal Aid
will administer the States’ directed
portions of these new programs and
is currently working with the
States and the IAFWA to develop
implementation guidelines. The
Service’s External Affairs Program
will implement the Tribal portion of
these programs with Federal Aid
providing fiscal administration.
The above programs are designed
to help conserve, develop, and
enhance the Nation’s fish and wildlife
resources, and to protect their
habitats for the continuing benefit
of the American people.
Federal Aid Program Overview
FWS photo
March 2002 6
Focus on
Specific
Programs and
Activities
State Audits
The Federal Aid Program audit
chapters were published in the
Federal Register for comment in
December 2001. The chapters
establish policy and responsibilities
for grantee audits, define terms
associated with audits, and provide
an overview of the audit process. In
addition, they establish policies and
procedures for audit scoping and
planning, conducting and reporting,
resolution, and appeals. The
establishment of these policies and
procedures will enhance the ongoing
and future audit process.
Chapter 1 provides terms associated
with the audit and an overview of the
audit process. Chapter 2 identifies the
programmatic and financial elements
to be audited. Chapter 3 provides
procedures for conducting and
reporting on audits of Federal Aid
Program grantees. Chapter 4
establishes policy and procedures for
resolving findings and implementing
recommendations. Included in this
chapter are the time lines of the
audit resolution process. Chapter 5
establishes policy and procedures for
appealing audit findings or corrective
actions. Chapter 6 establishes Service
policy for resolving findings and
implementing recommendations from
audits of Federal Aid Program
grantees under the Single Audit Act.
We believe guidance provided in the
audit chapters will enhance the ability
to complete audits in a timely manner.
Boating Infrastructure Grant
Program Tier-Two Grants
On January 7, 2002, the Service
announced a total of $4,395,115
for nine grants to eight States to
help improve docking facilities for
transient, non-trailerable boats along
the navigable waterways of the
United States. The grants are the
second round of awards made under
the Boating Infrastructure Grant
(BIG) Program authorized by the
Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act
of 1998 and funded in part by excise
taxes on motorboat fuel.
BIG Program funds are distributed
each year over a four-year period
ending in 2003. To ensure that
each State gets a share, funding is
provided on a two-tiered basis. For
tier-one grants, all States are eligible
to receive up to $100,000 per grant
cycle as long as their proposals meet
the Program’s guidelines. Tier-two
projects are designed for larger, more
expensive projects and are awarded
on a competitive basis.
The nine tier-two grants awarded for
Fiscal Year 2002 were selected from
58 proposals submitted from across
the country. The Director decided to
fund the nine projects based upon
recommendations received from a
panel of Service Regional staff as
well as those submitted by the Sport
Fishing and Boating Partnership
Council. The Council recommends
projects to the Service based on a
review of proposals by a Council-appointed
subcommittee.
7 March 2002
The Service has awarded the
following BIG Program grants for
Fiscal Year 2002:
Florida
Tampa Convention Center,
Tampa Bay—for new transient
docking facilities ($250,000)
Louisiana
Bucktown Harbor Marina, Lake
Pontchartrain—for new transient
docking facilities ($407,000)
Cypress Cove Marina, Mississippi
River—for new transient docking
facilities ($200,000)
Mississippi
Coleman State Park, Tennessee
River—for repairing harbor dike and
adding safety features for transient
boaters ($224,000)
Ohio
Middle Bass Island State Park—to
install 60 transient slips, completing
work initiated with BIG Program
funds in 2001 ($861,383)
Oregon
Port of Astoria, Columbia River—
construct and renovate transient
docking facilities ($354,750)
South Carolina
Charleston City Dock, Ashley
River—for new transient docking
facilities ($1,198,000)
Virginia
Yorktown Harbor, York River,
Chesapeake Bay—for new transient
docking facilities ($600,000)
Washington
Hanford Reach Gateway Dock,
Columbia River—for new transient
docking facilities ($299,982)
Federal Aid Information
Management System
FAIMS is critical to the reconciliation
of grant fiscal information between
HHS, Federal Aid, and the Division
of Finance. The checks and balances
built into FAIMS ensure the integrity
of our fiscal data, which was recently
confirmed by the KPMG audit of
the Service.
In Fiscal Year 2002 Federal Aid
Program emphasis for FAIMS
will be placed on:
n Improving the timeliness and
quality of grant objectives and
accomplishment information in
FAIMS. FAIMS is being used more
frequently to provide not only an
accounting of fiscal information, but
also objectives and resource benefits
accomplished. There will be an
increase in audit emphasis on the
full range of grant management
procedures. Our efforts this year
will be to close the loop on the
performance reporting aspect.
n Web-enabling the annual license
certification process and interfacing
it to the apportionment process. The
FAIMS Team is developing a Web
site that States will be able to access
and use to submit their license
certifications to the Service. This
will be tested this year and finalized
in Fiscal Year 2003. We formed a
FAIMS State User Acceptance Team
consisting of State representatives
from across the country who will
help us define system requirements
and test and finalize the application.
The Department selected the
e-Certification project as one of its
e-Government initiatives and they
are monitoring its success.
n Developing capability to provide
Web access to FAIMS information,
such as fiscal reports, grant status,
grant objectives, and accomplishment
information. The FAIMS team is
developing the capability to make
various FAIMS reports and
information available through any
computer on the Internet.
National Survey of Fishing,
Hunting, and Wildlife
Associated Recreation
2001 Survey Progress
The 2001 survey is the 10th sponsored
by the Service since 1955. The
Service sponsors it every five years
at the request of State fish and
wildlife agencies. It is one of the
Nation’s most important sources
of information on wildlife recreation.
The survey is funded by a Multistate
Conservation Grant.
In March 1999, the IAFWA
recommended that the Service
sponsor a survey in 200l. It
recommended a survey comparable
to the 1991 and 1996 surveys to
maintain trend information; increased
sample sizes to recapture some
State-level data lost when we reduced
samples to cut costs in 1996; and the
Census Bureau to collect the data.
It also recommended $12.5 million
for data collection. Due to funding
constraints, the Service could budget
only $10.2 million. Although we could
not increase sample sizes, the 2001
survey estimates will be comparable
to the 1996 and 1991 surveys.
In June 1999, the Service signed
an agreement with the Census to
conduct the survey. Service staff
met with State technical committee
members and non-governmental
organizations to decide survey
content. We also obtained ideas
from Federal agencies and other
major survey users.
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities
March 2002 8
In April and May 2001, the Census
conducted the survey screen and the
first of three detailed interview waves.
The Census completed screening
interviews of more than 52,000
households. Screening information
was used to identify samples of 30,000
potential sportsmen (anglers and
hunters) and 15,000 potential wildlife
watchers (wildlife feeders, observers,
and photographers) for the survey’s
detailed interview phase. The response
rate was 74%, an improvement over
the 1996 Survey’s 71% rate. They
conducted the second detailed
interview waves in September and
October 2001, and had a response
rate of 93%. Information was
collected through computer-assisted
interviews conducted primarily by
telephone, with in-person interviews
when necessary.
Future milestones:
n January to March 2002. Census
will conduct the final detailed
interview wave.
n June to July 2002. The Service
will begin publishing preliminary
estimates.
n November 2002. The Service will
publish the final National Report.
n December 2002. The Service will
begin publishing the State reports.
1996 Survey Reports
Information on the 1996 Survey
reports is available on the Service’s
Home Page at the following
URL: http://fa.r9.fws.gov/surveys/
surveys.html
Wildlife and Sport Fish
Restoration Programs
Improvement Act of 2000
As required by the Act, a Report
to Congress was prepared and
forwarded to Congress in late August
2001. After review by Congress this
report will appear on the Federal Aid
Home Page (http://fa.r9.fws.gov/).
This report details actions taken by
the Division to implement the Wildlife
and Sport Fish Restoration Programs
Improvement Act of 2000.
The Act reduces the funding available
for administering the Wildlife and
Sport Fish Restoration Programs.
Federal Aid will implement other cuts
to comply with these limits. Cost
savings resulting from administrative
reductions will be apportioned to
the States via the normal allocation
formula. To date, Federal Aid
has apportioned $8.6 million of
administrative savings to the States.
Multistate Conservation
Grant Program
The Multistate Conservation Grant
Program, authorized under the
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration
Programs Improvement Act of 2000,
issued grants for the first time in
Fiscal Year 2001. Furthering the
partnership between the Service and
the States, Congress stipulated that
the IAFWA would collect, consider,
and recommend grant proposals for
funding under this Program. The
grant program is intended to fund
grants meeting national conservation
needs as defined by the IAFWA and
benefitting a majority of the States,
majority of States in a Service
Region, or a regional association of
State fish and game departments.
Using pre-established national
conservation needs criteria, the
IAFWA recommended grants for
funding during Fiscal Year 2002.
With concurrence from the Service
Director, Federal Aid funded 23
grants, totaling $6.1 million. The
Division’s support for the Program
focuses on grants administration,
monitoring, and communications. In
addition, the Division is developing
a policy and procedures manual for
the Multistate Conservation Grant
Program. Lastly, the Division is on
call to provide technical advice to
the IAFWA for Fiscal Year 2002
Multistate Conservation Grants.
Complete list of Multistate
Conservation Grants Funded for
Fiscal Year 2002:
American Sportfishing Association,
Alexandria, VA
The 2001 Economic Contributions
of Sportfishing ($73,044)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington, VA
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting
and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
($2,865,032)
FWS photo
9 March 2002
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, Washington, D.C.
Representation of the Northeastern,
Southeastern, Midwest, and Western
Associations of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies in International
Conventions and Protocols ($38,000
Fiscal Year 2002, $38,000 Fiscal Year
2003, $38,000 Fiscal Year 2004)
New Computer Models for Trap
Testing in the Development of Best
Management Practices ($76,791)
Management Assistance Team 2002
($496,680)
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies’ Animal Use Issues
Task Force, Washington, D.C.
The 2001 Economic Contributions
of Hunting ($76,992)
States Organization for Boating Access,
Washington, D.C.
Pumpout Equipment Standards
and Lifecycle Testing ($299,000)
Tennessee Wildlife Resources
Agency, Nashville, TN
The Need to Develop a Geographic
Information System to Facilitate
Integrated Bird Conservation in
the Central Hardwoods Bird
Conservation Region ($33,750)
Western Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, Reno, NV
Sage-Grouse Interstate Working
Group Coordinator ($120,000 Fiscal
Year 2002, $105,000 Fiscal Year 2003,
$105,000 Fiscal Year 2004)
Instream Flow Council, Cheyenne, WY
Instream Flows for Riverine
Resource Stewardship ($16,650)
National Shooting Sports Foundation,
Newtown, CT
Step Outside: creating outreach
opportunities through partnership
development and marketing
($171,000)
KRA Corporation, Silver Spring, MD
Fish and Wildlife Reference Service
Managing and Providing Information
to State Wildlife and Natural
Resource Agencies ($413,935)
Department of Biological Sciences,
Arkansas State University,
State University, AR
Fate and Effect of the Aquaculture
Therapeutic Potassium
Permanganate ($59,915 Fiscal Year
2002, $117,616 Fiscal Year 2003,
$68,445 Fiscal Year 2004)
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies’ Agricultural
Conservation Task Force, Washington, D.C.
Coordination of Vegetation
Establishment and Management
on Conservation Reserve Program
Lands ($75,000 Fiscal Year 2000,
$75,000 Fiscal Year 2003)
Wildlife Management Institute,
Washington, D.C.
Understanding the Relationship
Between Waterfowl Hunting
Regulations and Hunter
Satisfaction/Participation ($61,450)
International Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies’ Fisheries and
Water Resources Policy Committee,
Washington, D.C.
Development and Validation of
Determinative Analytical Method
for the Marker Residue of AQUI-S,
a Fish Anesthetic for Public Fish
Facilities and Fishery Management
($49,335 Fiscal Year 2002, $162,058
Fiscal Year 2003, $89,371 Fiscal
Year 2004)
Development of a Model for Infecting
Fish with Columnaris to Facilitate
Pivotal Efficacy Trials for Treating
the Disease with Candidate
Therapeutants ($105,651)
New Animal Drug Application
(NADA) for Oxytetracycline
Immersion Therapy for Diseases of
Cool and Warm Water Fish Species
Cultured on Public Fish Facilities
($96,921 Fiscal Year 2002, $108,006
Fiscal Year 2003, $70,400 Fiscal
Year 2004)
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities
FWS photo
March 2002 10
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies’ Executive Committee,
Washington, D.C.
Multistate Conservation Grant
Program Coordination ($88,920 Fiscal
Year 2002, $88,920 Fiscal Year 2003)
Future Fisherman Foundation, Alexandria, VA
Support for State “Hooked On
Fishing - Not On Drugs” and Fishing
Tackle Loaner Programs ($294,200
Fiscal Year 2002, $262,000 Fiscal
Year 2003)
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies’ Migratory Bird
Committee, Washington, D.C.
Bird Conservation for the Nation:
Implementation of All-Bird
Conservation ($250,000)
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies’ Furbearer Resources
Task Force, Washington, D.C.
Outreach Best Management Practices
($200,000)
Council for Environmental Education,
Houston, TX
Science and Civics, Sustaining
Wildlife, Involving High School
Students and Addressing Wildlife
Needs ($52,656 Fiscal Year 2002,
$57,658 Fiscal Year 2003)
National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant Program
The Director of the Service
administers the National Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Grant
Program, which was established
by the Coastal Wetlands Planning,
Protection, and Restoration Act
in 1990. All coastal States (except
Louisiana) and Territories are eligible
to submit project proposals to the
appropriate Service Regional Office
annually. The Division of Federal
Aid and the Division of Fish and
Wildlife Management and Habitat
Restoration conduct a cross-program
review of project proposals. The
Director selects and awards the
successful grants.
Through the National Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Grant
Program, the Service provides up to
$15 million annually. Results of the
last five years are as follows:
Fiscal # of Awarded Acres
Year Projects
1998 20 $9.8M 12,680
1999 18 $9.8M 24,900
2000 25 $11.8M 5,500
2001 22 $15M 11,350
2002 20 $14.5M 27,700
A total of 25 coastal States and one
territory received grant awards
under this Program between 1992
and 2002, for a total of 201 projects.
Project participants in this Program
are State and Territorial agencies, but
have included county and municipal
governments and non-government
organizations as partners. For the
nearly $109 million granted since
1992, approximately one hundred
and thirty thousand acres have or
will be protected and/or restored.
Clean Vessel Act Pumpout
Grant Program
Congress passed the Clean Vessel Act
(CVA) in 1992 to help reduce pollution
from recreational vessel sewage
discharges. The Act established a
five-year grant program authorizing
$40 million from the Sport Fish
Restoration Account for use by the
States. Federal funds make up 75%
of all approved projects. TEA21
reauthorized CVA in 1998, providing
$50 million over five years ending in
Fiscal Year 2003. Since 1992, the CVA
Program has funded the installation
of more than 3,500 pumpout stations
and more than 2,000 dump stations.
During any given fiscal year the
Service will award $10 million in
CVA Program grants to States
and Territories.
Grants are available on a competitive
basis for the construction, operation,
and maintenance of pumpout and
portable toilet dump stations.
Priorities for awarding grants are
given to proposals:
n From coastal States with an
approved pumpout plan.
n Providing public/private
partnership.
n Using innovative techniques to
increase availability and use of
pumpout stations.
n Incorporating an education
component.
n Benefitting waters affected by
sewage discharge.
n Affecting areas with low
vessel/pumpout station ratios.
11 March 2002
States submit grant proposals each
year to Service Regional Offices for
review and submission to the WO.
The Service convenes a panel of
Federal employees including
representatives from the Service’s
WO, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the
Environmental Protection Agency,
and the U.S. Coast Guard. The panel
reviews the proposals, making
funding recommendations to the
Director of the Service.
Program guidance can be found in
the Code of Federal Regulations
(50 CFR 85). This includes
information on appropriate types
of facilities, surveys, plans,
education, how to apply for grants,
and guidelines for signs crediting
the Program.
Wildlife Conservation and
Restoration Program
The Service is implementing WCRP
that was authorized in Title IX
of the Commerce, Justice, State
Appropriations Act of 2000. The
Act appropriated $50 million to the
Secretary of Interior to provide
grants to States and Territories to
enhance wildlife conservation and
restoration. The Act directs States to
provide priority funding for species
with the greatest conservation need.
The agencies may use the money
for wildlife conservation, wildlife
conservation education, and
wildlife-associated recreation.
The Act created a sub-account
under the Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act for WCRP, and
structured a formula-based
apportionment to the States and
Territories. The law stipulated that
no State receive more than 5 percent
or less than 1 percent of the available
funds. The District of Columbia
and the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico received one-half of 1 percent
and Guam, American Samoa,
the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands received one-fourth
of 1 percent. While the new WCRP
is operating using existing Wildlife
Restoration Program guidelines for
the most part, new requirements to
utilize these funds were detailed in
the form of guidelines to the States.
Like the Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Program, WCRP pays
for up to 75 percent of the cost of each
project while the States contribute
at least 25 percent of the cost. These
funds are meant to supplement, but
not replace, existing funds available
from the Wildlife and Sport Fish
Restoration Programs for new
projects and activities as well as to
enhance ongoing ones.
The Service, the States, and the
IAFWA cooperated during the
implementation of this new
Program. Specifically, the Service
took the following significant actions
to facilitate the delivery of these
new funds:
n Developed and distributed WCRP
implementation guidelines which
made program requirements and
planning clearer.
n Sponsored three regional
workshops with State and Regional
Federal Aid partners to promote
implementation.
n Established a Comprehensive
Plan (Comp Plan) Eligibility
Determination Team. This team
reviewed Comp Plan submissions,
which were necessary for each State
to establish eligibility for the funds,
and worked expeditiously with any
State whose initial Comp Plan was
found lacking.
All States and Territories submitted
their Comp Plans by July 17, 2001,
and the last agency had its Comp Plan
approved by the Service Director on
August 16, 2001. State and Territorial
fish and wildlife agencies obligated
over $13 million to wildlife projects
prior to the end of Fiscal Year 2001.
To date, Congress has not provided
any funds for Fiscal Year 2002 for this
Program, but the States continue to
obligate their remaining Fiscal Year
2001 WCRP funds.
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities
FWS photo: Dave Menke
March 2002 12
State Wildlife Grants and the
Landowner Incentive Program
Two new programs were initiated
through the Department of the
Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2002. This Act
included $85 million for a State
Wildlife Grants Program and $40
million for a Landowner Incentive
Program. Only State agencies and
Tribes are eligible. The State Wildlife
Grants Program is formula-based,
and is intended to fund a wide range
of projects to benefit wildlife species
with the greatest conservation
need. The Tribal portion of the
State Wildlife Grants Program
will be competitively awarded. The
Landowner Incentive Program is to
award grants to States and Federally
recognized Tribes on a competitive
basis with the funds going to support
technical and financial assistance to
landowners for the protection and
management of habitat to benefit
Federally listed, proposed, or
candidate species or other at-risk
species on private lands. Federal Aid
will administer the States’ directed
portions of these new programs
and is currently working with the
States and the IAFWA to develop
implementation guidelines. The
Service’s External Affairs Program
will implement the Tribal portion of
these programs with Federal Aid
providing fiscal administration.
Federal Aid National
Training Program
The National Federal Aid Training
Program functions as part of the
WO of Federal Aid. The training
program develops and delivers grants
management training for Federal
Aid staff and State wildlife agency
grantees. Our training courses
increase the knowledge, skills,
and abilities of State and Federal
personnel who manage Federal Aid
grants. This training helps to ensure
that Federal Aid grant managers
consistently apply the laws, rules,
and policies which govern Federal
Aid Program administration.
Approximately 300 people completed
the Basic Grants Management
Course since it was first offered in
1996. Approximately 90 people
completed the Project Leaders
Course. More than 425 students
completed courses developed by
or offered in cooperation with the
Federal Aid Training Program. The
demand for courses continues to grow.
Currently, Basic Grants Management
courses are scheduled once each year.
Since the Project Leaders Course
pilot in March 2000, interest and
demand for the State specific Federal
Aid Project Leaders Course has
grown. Six Project Leaders Courses
are scheduled for Fiscal Year 2002.
These courses are customized to
meet State’s needs and offered
upon request in cooperation with
the Training Program, the Federal
Aid Regional Office, and State
staff who are responsible for
Federal Aid grants.
Efforts to develop additional courses
for Federal Aid grant managers are
in progress. Currently a course for
Federal Aid fiscal managers and
a compliance issues course are
being developed.
The Federal Aid Training
Program also provides training
tools, resources, instructors, and
assistance in developing other grant
management training. To date, this
training has focused on grant writing
skills for the Boating Infrastructure
Grant Program, Clean Vessel
Program, and boating access grants.
Course descriptions, an on-line
application, training materials,
and grant manager’s resources
are available on Federal Aid’s
Training Program internet site
at: http://www.nctc.fws.gov/fedaid/
fatrain.htm.
13 March 2002
Appendices With the exception of the following
table (Hunter Education Section 10
Funds for FY 2001), all other
information and tables previously
found in the appendices in earlier
Program Updates are now on the
Federal Aid Home Page
where they are maintained at:
http://fa.r9.fws.gov/. Note that
this service may be temporarily
unavailable due to Department of
Interior restrictions on Internet use.
Hunter Education Section 10 Funds (Dollars) FY2001
State Apportioned Obligated
Alabama 169,260 169,259
Alaska 75,000 75,000
Arizona 195,276 195,276
Arkansas 75,000 75,000
California 225,000 225,000
Colorado 163,710 0
Connecticut 129,619 129,619
Delaware 75,000 75,000
Florida 225,000 225,000
Georgia 225,000 225,000
Hawaii 75,000 75,000
Idaho 75,000 75,000
Illinois 225,000 225,000
Indiana 225,000 225,000
Iowa 111,378 111,378
Kansas 75,000 75,000
Kentucky 153,833 153,833
Louisiana 170,093 0
Maine 75,000 75,000
Maryland 201,588 201,588
Massachusetts 225,000 225,000
Michigan 225,000 225,000
Minnesota 187,240 0
Mississippi 108,270 108,270
Missouri 212,958 212,958
Montana 75,000 75,000
Nebraska 75,000 75,000
Nevada 75,000 75,000
State Apportioned Obligated
New Hampshire 75,000 75,000
New Jersey 225,000 225,000
New Mexico 75,000 75,000
New York 225,000 225,000
North Carolina 225,000 225,000
North Dakota 75,000 75,000
Ohio 225,000 225,000
Oklahoma 131,335 114,319
Oregon 130,221 130,221
Pennsylvania 225,000 225,000
Rhode Island 75,000 75,000
South Carolina 152,701 151,760
South Dakota 75,000 75,000
Tennessee 216,538 216,538
Texas 225,000 225,000
Utah 75,000 75,000
Vermont 75,000 75,000
Virginia 225,000 225,000
Washington 224,334 224,334
West Virginia 75,000 75,000
Wisconsin 204,146 204,146
Wyoming 75,000 75,000
Puerto Rico 12,500 0
Guam 12,500 0
Virgin Islands 12,500 0
American Samoa 12,500 0
N. Mariana Islands 12,500 0
TOTAL 7,500,000 6,898,499
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service
Division of Federal Aid
http://www.fws.gov

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U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration
Program Update March 2002
Table of
Contents
Assistant Director Comments 1
Staff Directory, Federal Aid, Washington Office 2
Federal Aid Program Overview 3
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities 6
State Audits 6
Boating Infrastructure Grant Program Tier-Two Grants 6
Federal Aid Information Management System 7
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Associated Recreation 7
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Programs Improvement Act of 2000 8
Multistate Conservation Grant Program 8
National Coastal Wetlands Conservation Grant Program 10
Clean Vessel Act Pumpout Grant Program 10
Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program 11
State Wildlife Grants and the Landowner Incentive Program 12
Federal Aid National Training Program 12
Appendices 13
FWS photo: Tupper Ansel Blake
1 March 2002
Assistant
Director’s
Comments
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s
Federal Aid Program is changing.
While the Division of Federal Aid
continues to execute its day-to-day
management responsibility for more
than $500 million in Sport Fish
and Wildlife Restoration Program
grants, it has expanded its efforts
in three specific areas: development
of newly assigned grant programs,
improving State audit measures,
and expanding the capabilities of
the Federal Aid Information
Management System (FAIMS).
In Fiscal Year 2002, the Division
is implementing two new grant
programs—the $80 million State
Wildlife Grants Program and the
$40 million Landowner Incentive
Program. These new Programs
complement the $50 million Wildlife
Conservation and Restoration
Program (WCRP), authorized and
appropriated by Congress in Fiscal
Year 2001. In the case of the State
Wildlife Grants Program, Federal
funds will be provided to State
agencies for conservation of the full
array of wildlife in the State. The
Landowner Incentive Program will
deliver conservation through State
agencies and by landowners to benefit
endangered, threatened, and species
at risk. As it did with WCRP, the
Service is coordinating closely with
State wildlife agencies and the
International Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies (IAFWA), to
establish efficient procedures for
their implementation.
The transfer of authority for
conducting State audits from the
Defense Contracting Audit Agency to
the Department of Interior Office of
Inspector General (OIG) was a time
consuming but ultimately successful
activity for the Division during the
reporting period. To improve the
next cycle of audits, the Division
mounted an effort to collect
information from the Service’s seven
regional offices, the States, and
from completed audits. Based on
information developed by a team of
State representatives, the Division
published in the Federal Register
six new draft chapters destined to
become the Service Manual chapters
on audit policy and procedure. These
efforts will improve the process as
we begin the second audit cycle
working cooperatively with the OIG.
FAIMS is the electronic backbone
of the Division’s grants management
financial tracking and reporting
activities. The future refinement
and development of FAIMS is being
guided by seven User Acceptance
Teams, including one team of
representatives from State agencies.
The Division is nearing the point
where it will be able to provide its
grant recipients direct access to
FAIMS data and reports through
the Internet. Improvements in
FAIMS are in keeping with the
Department of the Interior’s
e-Government initiative.
As I pledged last year, improvements
are being made in the delivery of
services to you, our customer. As
we look forward to the next few
years, we see many challenges, but
challenges bring opportunities and
Federal Aid is ready.
March 2002 2
Federal Aid
Staff Directory
Washington
Office
Tim Hess, Wildlife Conservation and
Restoration Program, Sport Fish
Restoration Program, Landowner
Incentive Program, State Wildlife
Grants, Regions 3 & 5
Chris McKay (Internal Partner with
RBFF) Multistate Conservation
Grant Program
Brian Bohnsack, Wildlife Restoration
Program, Coastal Wetlands, Clean
Vessel Program, Regions 1 & 2
Branch of Audits and
Cash Management
Lanny Moore, Branch Chief, Audits,
Cash Management
Ord Bargerstock, Systems Accountant,
Regions 4 & 5, Audit Resolution
Pat McHugh, Systems Accountant,
Regions 3, 6, & 7, Audit Program
Oversight
Kate Gilliam, Systems Accountant,
Regions 1 & 2, Lessons Learned,
Future Audit Plans
Branch of Surveys
Sylvia Cabrera, Branch Chief,
National Survey of Fishing Hunting
and Wildlife Associated Recreation
Richard Aiken, Economist,
National Survey
Genevieve Pullis, Economist,
National Survey
Branch of Training
Steve Leggans, Branch Chief
Blake Weirich, Assistant Training
Coordinator
Julie Schroyer, Administrative Analyst
Kris E. LaMontagne, Division Chief
Larry Bandolin, Deputy Division Chief,
Operations
Cheri Morgan, Lead Secretary
Jimmye Kane, Secretary
Branch of Budget and
Administration
Tom Jeffrey, Branch Chief, Budget
Development and Execution,
Program Management, Special
Projects
Mary Jones, Administrative Officer
Linda Muhammad, Program Support
Assistant (Property, Purchasing,
Acquisition, FFS, and FAIMS entry
and tracking)
Branch of Information Management
Bill Conlin, Branch Chief, Information
Resources and ADP Management,
ADP Support, (FAIMS)
Jeffrey Graves, Server Support,
Web Site Support
David Washington, ADP Systems
Support, ADP Acquisition Support
Lorinda Bennett, Fiscal Management,
Audit Liaison
Branch of Grants Operations
and Policy
Gary Reinitz, Branch Chief, National
Issue Management, Boating
Infrastructure Grant Program,
Regions 4 & 7
Jack Hicks, Regulation, U. S. Fish
and Wildlife Service Manual,
Hunter/Aquatic Education, Section 6
Grants, Region 6
FWS photo: Tupper Ansel Blake
3 March 2002
Federal Aid
Program
Overview
The goal of the Federal Aid Program
is to strengthen the ability of State
and Territorial fish and wildlife
agencies to meet effectively the
consumptive and non-consumptive
needs of the public for fish and
wildlife resources. The Federal
Aid Program is responsible for
administering the following
programs:
Wildlife Restoration
Sport Fish Restoration
Clean Vessel Pumpout
Boating Infrastructure Grant
National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant
Wildlife Conservation and
Restoration
Multistate Conservation Grant
State Wildlife Grants
Landowner Incentive Program
In addition, Federal Aid provides
grant management support for
endangered species traditional section
6, Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)
Land Acquisition, HCP Planning,
and Recovery Land Acquisition
Grant Programs.
The Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act was approved by
Congress on September 2, 1937, and
began functioning on July 1, 1938.
The purpose of this Act is to provide
funding for the selection, restoration,
rehabilitation, and improvement of
wildlife habitat, wildlife management
and research, and the distribution of
information produced by the projects.
Congress amended the Act October
23, 1970, to include funding for
hunter training programs and
the development, operation, and
maintenance of public target ranges.
Funds are derived from an 11 percent
Federal excise tax on sporting arms,
ammunition, and archery equipment,
and a 10 percent tax on handguns.
Additional funds are also collected
from a 12.4 percent tax on archery
equipment. These funds are
apportioned each year to the States
and Territories (except Washington,
D.C.) by the Department of the
Interior on the basis of formulas
set forth in the Act. The Wildlife
and Sport Fish Programs
Improvement Act of 2000 added
Puerto Rico as eligible to receive
hunter education funds.
The Federal Aid in Sport Fish
Restoration Act, commonly referred
to as the Dingell-Johnson Act,
was passed on August 9, 1950. It
was modeled after the Federal Aid
in Wildlife Restoration Act to
create a parallel program for fish
management, conservation, and
restoration. The Program is funded
by a 10 percent Federal excise tax on
fishing rods, reels, creels, lures, flies,
and artificial baits, and a 3 percent tax
on electronic fishing motors and sonar
fish finders. These funds are also
apportioned each year to the States
and Territories by the Department of
the Interior on the basis of a formula
set forth in the Act.
March 2002 4
The Clean Vessel Act was passed in
1992 to help reduce pollution from
vessel sewage discharges. The Act
established a Federal grant program
to the States to be administered by
the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(Service) and funded at $10 million
annually by the Sport Fish
Restoration Account of the Aquatic
Resources Trust Fund. Federal
funds can reimburse up to 75 percent
of all approved project costs with
the remaining funds provided by
the States or marinas. Grants
are available to the States on a
competitive basis for the construction
and/or renovation, operation, and
maintenance of pumpout and portable
toilet dump stations. After States
submit grant proposals to the Service
for review, the Service’s Division of
Federal Aid then convenes a panel
including representatives from
the Division’s Washington Office
(WO), the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the
Environmental Protection Agency,
and the U.S. Coast Guard to rank
proposals. Awards are made shortly
afterward. The Act was reauthorized
by the Transportation Equity Act for
the 21st Century (TEA21) through
Fiscal Year 2003.
The Boating Infrastructure Grant
(BIG) Program provides $32 million
over four years (2000–2003) for
grants to the States and Territories,
local governments, and private
marinas. The purpose of the grants is
to encourage States, in cooperation
with local and private interests,
to install, renovate, and maintain
tie-up facilities for non-trailerable
recreational boats. The Sport Fishing
and Boating Partnership Council and
Service panel annually recommends
grants for funding to the Service.
The Coastal Wetlands Planning,
Protection and Restoration Act is
funded by 18 percent of the Sport
Fish Restoration Account or 100
percent of the excise tax on small
engine fuel (whichever is greater).
The Program provides 15 percent of
the funds (not to exceed $15 million)
for the National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant Program. The
Service provides Coastal Wetlands
Grants to States and Territories
for coastal wetlands acquisition,
restoration, and enhancement.
Congress reauthorized the Coastal
Wetlands Planning, Protection and
Restoration Act in November 2000
through Fiscal Year 2009.
WCRP was authorized by Congress
in 2000 and implemented in Fiscal
Year 2001. State and Territorial fish
and wildlife agencies are encouraged
to participate with the Federal
Government, other State agencies,
wildlife conservation organizations,
and outdoor recreation and
conservation interests through
cooperative planning and
implementation of WCRP. Wildlife
conservation, wildlife conservation
education, and wildlife-associated
recreation activities are all eligible
for funding. Public input and
participation is actively sought
by the States in conducting this
Program. The Program was funded
with $50 million for Fiscal Year 2001
with the funds being apportioned to
the States and Territories by formula.
The Multistate Conservation Grant
Program was authorized under the
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration
Programs Improvement Act of 2000.
It can award up to $6 million annually,
half of the funds coming from each
of the Sport Fish and Wildlife
Restoration Programs. These grants
must benefit half of the States, the
majority of States in a Service
Region, or a regional association of
State fish and game departments. In
Fiscal Years 2001 and 2002, the full
amount was issued in grants.
Section 6 of the Endangered Species
Act of 1973 established a grant
program available to any State
agency or agencies, or other
government entities, with authority
to conserve resident species of
fish and wildlife or plants deemed
threatened or endangered.
Prerequisites for participation in
grants under section 6 are that a
State establishes and maintains an
adequate and active program for
the conservation of endangered and
threatened species and has entered
into a cooperative agreement
with the Secretary of the Interior.
The State must also meet the
requirements for an adequate and
active program described in 50 CFR
81 and the Service Manual, chapter
521 FW 4.
5 March 2002
For Fiscal Year 2002, the traditional
section 6 grant program was funded
at $7.52 million. These funds are
distributed among the Regions based
on the number of “counted” species
found within the States in the Region.
A Regional competition is then
conducted among the States within
that Region. Additional section 6
programs were funded as follows
for Fiscal Year 2002: HCP Land
Acquisition, $61.3 million; HCP
Planning, $6.65 million; Recovery
Land Acquisition, $17.759; and $3
million for administration. Funds are
awarded for these programs on a
competitive basis. Two section 6 grant
programs funded in Fiscal Year 2001,
Safe Harbor and Candidate
Conservation Planning, were not
funded in Fiscal Year 2002. For
traditional section 6 grants, the
Federal share is 75 percent, but can
go up to 90 percent when two or more
States cooperate on an eligible grant.
The State Wildlife Grants and
Landowner Incentive Programs were
initiated through the Department of
the Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2002. This Act
included $85 million for a State
Wildlife Grants Program and $40
million for a Landowner Incentive
Program. Only State agencies and
Tribes are eligible. The State Wildlife
Grants Program is formula-based
and is intended to fund a wide range
of projects to benefit wildlife species
with the greatest conservation
need. The Tribal portion of the
State Wildlife Grants Program
will be competitively awarded. The
Landowner Incentive Program
awards grants to States and Federally
recognized Tribes on a competitive
basis with the funds going to support
technical and financial assistance to
landowners for the protection and
management of habitat to benefit
Federally listed, proposed, or
candidate species or other at-risk
species on private lands. Federal Aid
will administer the States’ directed
portions of these new programs and
is currently working with the
States and the IAFWA to develop
implementation guidelines. The
Service’s External Affairs Program
will implement the Tribal portion of
these programs with Federal Aid
providing fiscal administration.
The above programs are designed
to help conserve, develop, and
enhance the Nation’s fish and wildlife
resources, and to protect their
habitats for the continuing benefit
of the American people.
Federal Aid Program Overview
FWS photo
March 2002 6
Focus on
Specific
Programs and
Activities
State Audits
The Federal Aid Program audit
chapters were published in the
Federal Register for comment in
December 2001. The chapters
establish policy and responsibilities
for grantee audits, define terms
associated with audits, and provide
an overview of the audit process. In
addition, they establish policies and
procedures for audit scoping and
planning, conducting and reporting,
resolution, and appeals. The
establishment of these policies and
procedures will enhance the ongoing
and future audit process.
Chapter 1 provides terms associated
with the audit and an overview of the
audit process. Chapter 2 identifies the
programmatic and financial elements
to be audited. Chapter 3 provides
procedures for conducting and
reporting on audits of Federal Aid
Program grantees. Chapter 4
establishes policy and procedures for
resolving findings and implementing
recommendations. Included in this
chapter are the time lines of the
audit resolution process. Chapter 5
establishes policy and procedures for
appealing audit findings or corrective
actions. Chapter 6 establishes Service
policy for resolving findings and
implementing recommendations from
audits of Federal Aid Program
grantees under the Single Audit Act.
We believe guidance provided in the
audit chapters will enhance the ability
to complete audits in a timely manner.
Boating Infrastructure Grant
Program Tier-Two Grants
On January 7, 2002, the Service
announced a total of $4,395,115
for nine grants to eight States to
help improve docking facilities for
transient, non-trailerable boats along
the navigable waterways of the
United States. The grants are the
second round of awards made under
the Boating Infrastructure Grant
(BIG) Program authorized by the
Sportfishing and Boating Safety Act
of 1998 and funded in part by excise
taxes on motorboat fuel.
BIG Program funds are distributed
each year over a four-year period
ending in 2003. To ensure that
each State gets a share, funding is
provided on a two-tiered basis. For
tier-one grants, all States are eligible
to receive up to $100,000 per grant
cycle as long as their proposals meet
the Program’s guidelines. Tier-two
projects are designed for larger, more
expensive projects and are awarded
on a competitive basis.
The nine tier-two grants awarded for
Fiscal Year 2002 were selected from
58 proposals submitted from across
the country. The Director decided to
fund the nine projects based upon
recommendations received from a
panel of Service Regional staff as
well as those submitted by the Sport
Fishing and Boating Partnership
Council. The Council recommends
projects to the Service based on a
review of proposals by a Council-appointed
subcommittee.
7 March 2002
The Service has awarded the
following BIG Program grants for
Fiscal Year 2002:
Florida
Tampa Convention Center,
Tampa Bay—for new transient
docking facilities ($250,000)
Louisiana
Bucktown Harbor Marina, Lake
Pontchartrain—for new transient
docking facilities ($407,000)
Cypress Cove Marina, Mississippi
River—for new transient docking
facilities ($200,000)
Mississippi
Coleman State Park, Tennessee
River—for repairing harbor dike and
adding safety features for transient
boaters ($224,000)
Ohio
Middle Bass Island State Park—to
install 60 transient slips, completing
work initiated with BIG Program
funds in 2001 ($861,383)
Oregon
Port of Astoria, Columbia River—
construct and renovate transient
docking facilities ($354,750)
South Carolina
Charleston City Dock, Ashley
River—for new transient docking
facilities ($1,198,000)
Virginia
Yorktown Harbor, York River,
Chesapeake Bay—for new transient
docking facilities ($600,000)
Washington
Hanford Reach Gateway Dock,
Columbia River—for new transient
docking facilities ($299,982)
Federal Aid Information
Management System
FAIMS is critical to the reconciliation
of grant fiscal information between
HHS, Federal Aid, and the Division
of Finance. The checks and balances
built into FAIMS ensure the integrity
of our fiscal data, which was recently
confirmed by the KPMG audit of
the Service.
In Fiscal Year 2002 Federal Aid
Program emphasis for FAIMS
will be placed on:
n Improving the timeliness and
quality of grant objectives and
accomplishment information in
FAIMS. FAIMS is being used more
frequently to provide not only an
accounting of fiscal information, but
also objectives and resource benefits
accomplished. There will be an
increase in audit emphasis on the
full range of grant management
procedures. Our efforts this year
will be to close the loop on the
performance reporting aspect.
n Web-enabling the annual license
certification process and interfacing
it to the apportionment process. The
FAIMS Team is developing a Web
site that States will be able to access
and use to submit their license
certifications to the Service. This
will be tested this year and finalized
in Fiscal Year 2003. We formed a
FAIMS State User Acceptance Team
consisting of State representatives
from across the country who will
help us define system requirements
and test and finalize the application.
The Department selected the
e-Certification project as one of its
e-Government initiatives and they
are monitoring its success.
n Developing capability to provide
Web access to FAIMS information,
such as fiscal reports, grant status,
grant objectives, and accomplishment
information. The FAIMS team is
developing the capability to make
various FAIMS reports and
information available through any
computer on the Internet.
National Survey of Fishing,
Hunting, and Wildlife
Associated Recreation
2001 Survey Progress
The 2001 survey is the 10th sponsored
by the Service since 1955. The
Service sponsors it every five years
at the request of State fish and
wildlife agencies. It is one of the
Nation’s most important sources
of information on wildlife recreation.
The survey is funded by a Multistate
Conservation Grant.
In March 1999, the IAFWA
recommended that the Service
sponsor a survey in 200l. It
recommended a survey comparable
to the 1991 and 1996 surveys to
maintain trend information; increased
sample sizes to recapture some
State-level data lost when we reduced
samples to cut costs in 1996; and the
Census Bureau to collect the data.
It also recommended $12.5 million
for data collection. Due to funding
constraints, the Service could budget
only $10.2 million. Although we could
not increase sample sizes, the 2001
survey estimates will be comparable
to the 1996 and 1991 surveys.
In June 1999, the Service signed
an agreement with the Census to
conduct the survey. Service staff
met with State technical committee
members and non-governmental
organizations to decide survey
content. We also obtained ideas
from Federal agencies and other
major survey users.
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities
March 2002 8
In April and May 2001, the Census
conducted the survey screen and the
first of three detailed interview waves.
The Census completed screening
interviews of more than 52,000
households. Screening information
was used to identify samples of 30,000
potential sportsmen (anglers and
hunters) and 15,000 potential wildlife
watchers (wildlife feeders, observers,
and photographers) for the survey’s
detailed interview phase. The response
rate was 74%, an improvement over
the 1996 Survey’s 71% rate. They
conducted the second detailed
interview waves in September and
October 2001, and had a response
rate of 93%. Information was
collected through computer-assisted
interviews conducted primarily by
telephone, with in-person interviews
when necessary.
Future milestones:
n January to March 2002. Census
will conduct the final detailed
interview wave.
n June to July 2002. The Service
will begin publishing preliminary
estimates.
n November 2002. The Service will
publish the final National Report.
n December 2002. The Service will
begin publishing the State reports.
1996 Survey Reports
Information on the 1996 Survey
reports is available on the Service’s
Home Page at the following
URL: http://fa.r9.fws.gov/surveys/
surveys.html
Wildlife and Sport Fish
Restoration Programs
Improvement Act of 2000
As required by the Act, a Report
to Congress was prepared and
forwarded to Congress in late August
2001. After review by Congress this
report will appear on the Federal Aid
Home Page (http://fa.r9.fws.gov/).
This report details actions taken by
the Division to implement the Wildlife
and Sport Fish Restoration Programs
Improvement Act of 2000.
The Act reduces the funding available
for administering the Wildlife and
Sport Fish Restoration Programs.
Federal Aid will implement other cuts
to comply with these limits. Cost
savings resulting from administrative
reductions will be apportioned to
the States via the normal allocation
formula. To date, Federal Aid
has apportioned $8.6 million of
administrative savings to the States.
Multistate Conservation
Grant Program
The Multistate Conservation Grant
Program, authorized under the
Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration
Programs Improvement Act of 2000,
issued grants for the first time in
Fiscal Year 2001. Furthering the
partnership between the Service and
the States, Congress stipulated that
the IAFWA would collect, consider,
and recommend grant proposals for
funding under this Program. The
grant program is intended to fund
grants meeting national conservation
needs as defined by the IAFWA and
benefitting a majority of the States,
majority of States in a Service
Region, or a regional association of
State fish and game departments.
Using pre-established national
conservation needs criteria, the
IAFWA recommended grants for
funding during Fiscal Year 2002.
With concurrence from the Service
Director, Federal Aid funded 23
grants, totaling $6.1 million. The
Division’s support for the Program
focuses on grants administration,
monitoring, and communications. In
addition, the Division is developing
a policy and procedures manual for
the Multistate Conservation Grant
Program. Lastly, the Division is on
call to provide technical advice to
the IAFWA for Fiscal Year 2002
Multistate Conservation Grants.
Complete list of Multistate
Conservation Grants Funded for
Fiscal Year 2002:
American Sportfishing Association,
Alexandria, VA
The 2001 Economic Contributions
of Sportfishing ($73,044)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arlington, VA
National Survey of Fishing, Hunting
and Wildlife-Associated Recreation
($2,865,032)
FWS photo
9 March 2002
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, Washington, D.C.
Representation of the Northeastern,
Southeastern, Midwest, and Western
Associations of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies in International
Conventions and Protocols ($38,000
Fiscal Year 2002, $38,000 Fiscal Year
2003, $38,000 Fiscal Year 2004)
New Computer Models for Trap
Testing in the Development of Best
Management Practices ($76,791)
Management Assistance Team 2002
($496,680)
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies’ Animal Use Issues
Task Force, Washington, D.C.
The 2001 Economic Contributions
of Hunting ($76,992)
States Organization for Boating Access,
Washington, D.C.
Pumpout Equipment Standards
and Lifecycle Testing ($299,000)
Tennessee Wildlife Resources
Agency, Nashville, TN
The Need to Develop a Geographic
Information System to Facilitate
Integrated Bird Conservation in
the Central Hardwoods Bird
Conservation Region ($33,750)
Western Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies, Reno, NV
Sage-Grouse Interstate Working
Group Coordinator ($120,000 Fiscal
Year 2002, $105,000 Fiscal Year 2003,
$105,000 Fiscal Year 2004)
Instream Flow Council, Cheyenne, WY
Instream Flows for Riverine
Resource Stewardship ($16,650)
National Shooting Sports Foundation,
Newtown, CT
Step Outside: creating outreach
opportunities through partnership
development and marketing
($171,000)
KRA Corporation, Silver Spring, MD
Fish and Wildlife Reference Service
Managing and Providing Information
to State Wildlife and Natural
Resource Agencies ($413,935)
Department of Biological Sciences,
Arkansas State University,
State University, AR
Fate and Effect of the Aquaculture
Therapeutic Potassium
Permanganate ($59,915 Fiscal Year
2002, $117,616 Fiscal Year 2003,
$68,445 Fiscal Year 2004)
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies’ Agricultural
Conservation Task Force, Washington, D.C.
Coordination of Vegetation
Establishment and Management
on Conservation Reserve Program
Lands ($75,000 Fiscal Year 2000,
$75,000 Fiscal Year 2003)
Wildlife Management Institute,
Washington, D.C.
Understanding the Relationship
Between Waterfowl Hunting
Regulations and Hunter
Satisfaction/Participation ($61,450)
International Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies’ Fisheries and
Water Resources Policy Committee,
Washington, D.C.
Development and Validation of
Determinative Analytical Method
for the Marker Residue of AQUI-S,
a Fish Anesthetic for Public Fish
Facilities and Fishery Management
($49,335 Fiscal Year 2002, $162,058
Fiscal Year 2003, $89,371 Fiscal
Year 2004)
Development of a Model for Infecting
Fish with Columnaris to Facilitate
Pivotal Efficacy Trials for Treating
the Disease with Candidate
Therapeutants ($105,651)
New Animal Drug Application
(NADA) for Oxytetracycline
Immersion Therapy for Diseases of
Cool and Warm Water Fish Species
Cultured on Public Fish Facilities
($96,921 Fiscal Year 2002, $108,006
Fiscal Year 2003, $70,400 Fiscal
Year 2004)
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities
FWS photo
March 2002 10
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies’ Executive Committee,
Washington, D.C.
Multistate Conservation Grant
Program Coordination ($88,920 Fiscal
Year 2002, $88,920 Fiscal Year 2003)
Future Fisherman Foundation, Alexandria, VA
Support for State “Hooked On
Fishing - Not On Drugs” and Fishing
Tackle Loaner Programs ($294,200
Fiscal Year 2002, $262,000 Fiscal
Year 2003)
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies’ Migratory Bird
Committee, Washington, D.C.
Bird Conservation for the Nation:
Implementation of All-Bird
Conservation ($250,000)
International Association of Fish and
Wildlife Agencies’ Furbearer Resources
Task Force, Washington, D.C.
Outreach Best Management Practices
($200,000)
Council for Environmental Education,
Houston, TX
Science and Civics, Sustaining
Wildlife, Involving High School
Students and Addressing Wildlife
Needs ($52,656 Fiscal Year 2002,
$57,658 Fiscal Year 2003)
National Coastal Wetlands
Conservation Grant Program
The Director of the Service
administers the National Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Grant
Program, which was established
by the Coastal Wetlands Planning,
Protection, and Restoration Act
in 1990. All coastal States (except
Louisiana) and Territories are eligible
to submit project proposals to the
appropriate Service Regional Office
annually. The Division of Federal
Aid and the Division of Fish and
Wildlife Management and Habitat
Restoration conduct a cross-program
review of project proposals. The
Director selects and awards the
successful grants.
Through the National Coastal
Wetlands Conservation Grant
Program, the Service provides up to
$15 million annually. Results of the
last five years are as follows:
Fiscal # of Awarded Acres
Year Projects
1998 20 $9.8M 12,680
1999 18 $9.8M 24,900
2000 25 $11.8M 5,500
2001 22 $15M 11,350
2002 20 $14.5M 27,700
A total of 25 coastal States and one
territory received grant awards
under this Program between 1992
and 2002, for a total of 201 projects.
Project participants in this Program
are State and Territorial agencies, but
have included county and municipal
governments and non-government
organizations as partners. For the
nearly $109 million granted since
1992, approximately one hundred
and thirty thousand acres have or
will be protected and/or restored.
Clean Vessel Act Pumpout
Grant Program
Congress passed the Clean Vessel Act
(CVA) in 1992 to help reduce pollution
from recreational vessel sewage
discharges. The Act established a
five-year grant program authorizing
$40 million from the Sport Fish
Restoration Account for use by the
States. Federal funds make up 75%
of all approved projects. TEA21
reauthorized CVA in 1998, providing
$50 million over five years ending in
Fiscal Year 2003. Since 1992, the CVA
Program has funded the installation
of more than 3,500 pumpout stations
and more than 2,000 dump stations.
During any given fiscal year the
Service will award $10 million in
CVA Program grants to States
and Territories.
Grants are available on a competitive
basis for the construction, operation,
and maintenance of pumpout and
portable toilet dump stations.
Priorities for awarding grants are
given to proposals:
n From coastal States with an
approved pumpout plan.
n Providing public/private
partnership.
n Using innovative techniques to
increase availability and use of
pumpout stations.
n Incorporating an education
component.
n Benefitting waters affected by
sewage discharge.
n Affecting areas with low
vessel/pumpout station ratios.
11 March 2002
States submit grant proposals each
year to Service Regional Offices for
review and submission to the WO.
The Service convenes a panel of
Federal employees including
representatives from the Service’s
WO, the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, the
Environmental Protection Agency,
and the U.S. Coast Guard. The panel
reviews the proposals, making
funding recommendations to the
Director of the Service.
Program guidance can be found in
the Code of Federal Regulations
(50 CFR 85). This includes
information on appropriate types
of facilities, surveys, plans,
education, how to apply for grants,
and guidelines for signs crediting
the Program.
Wildlife Conservation and
Restoration Program
The Service is implementing WCRP
that was authorized in Title IX
of the Commerce, Justice, State
Appropriations Act of 2000. The
Act appropriated $50 million to the
Secretary of Interior to provide
grants to States and Territories to
enhance wildlife conservation and
restoration. The Act directs States to
provide priority funding for species
with the greatest conservation need.
The agencies may use the money
for wildlife conservation, wildlife
conservation education, and
wildlife-associated recreation.
The Act created a sub-account
under the Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Act for WCRP, and
structured a formula-based
apportionment to the States and
Territories. The law stipulated that
no State receive more than 5 percent
or less than 1 percent of the available
funds. The District of Columbia
and the Commonwealth of Puerto
Rico received one-half of 1 percent
and Guam, American Samoa,
the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the
Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands received one-fourth
of 1 percent. While the new WCRP
is operating using existing Wildlife
Restoration Program guidelines for
the most part, new requirements to
utilize these funds were detailed in
the form of guidelines to the States.
Like the Federal Aid in Wildlife
Restoration Program, WCRP pays
for up to 75 percent of the cost of each
project while the States contribute
at least 25 percent of the cost. These
funds are meant to supplement, but
not replace, existing funds available
from the Wildlife and Sport Fish
Restoration Programs for new
projects and activities as well as to
enhance ongoing ones.
The Service, the States, and the
IAFWA cooperated during the
implementation of this new
Program. Specifically, the Service
took the following significant actions
to facilitate the delivery of these
new funds:
n Developed and distributed WCRP
implementation guidelines which
made program requirements and
planning clearer.
n Sponsored three regional
workshops with State and Regional
Federal Aid partners to promote
implementation.
n Established a Comprehensive
Plan (Comp Plan) Eligibility
Determination Team. This team
reviewed Comp Plan submissions,
which were necessary for each State
to establish eligibility for the funds,
and worked expeditiously with any
State whose initial Comp Plan was
found lacking.
All States and Territories submitted
their Comp Plans by July 17, 2001,
and the last agency had its Comp Plan
approved by the Service Director on
August 16, 2001. State and Territorial
fish and wildlife agencies obligated
over $13 million to wildlife projects
prior to the end of Fiscal Year 2001.
To date, Congress has not provided
any funds for Fiscal Year 2002 for this
Program, but the States continue to
obligate their remaining Fiscal Year
2001 WCRP funds.
Focus on Specific Programs and Activities
FWS photo: Dave Menke
March 2002 12
State Wildlife Grants and the
Landowner Incentive Program
Two new programs were initiated
through the Department of the
Interior and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2002. This Act
included $85 million for a State
Wildlife Grants Program and $40
million for a Landowner Incentive
Program. Only State agencies and
Tribes are eligible. The State Wildlife
Grants Program is formula-based,
and is intended to fund a wide range
of projects to benefit wildlife species
with the greatest conservation
need. The Tribal portion of the
State Wildlife Grants Program
will be competitively awarded. The
Landowner Incentive Program is to
award grants to States and Federally
recognized Tribes on a competitive
basis with the funds going to support
technical and financial assistance to
landowners for the protection and
management of habitat to benefit
Federally listed, proposed, or
candidate species or other at-risk
species on private lands. Federal Aid
will administer the States’ directed
portions of these new programs
and is currently working with the
States and the IAFWA to develop
implementation guidelines. The
Service’s External Affairs Program
will implement the Tribal portion of
these programs with Federal Aid
providing fiscal administration.
Federal Aid National
Training Program
The National Federal Aid Training
Program functions as part of the
WO of Federal Aid. The training
program develops and delivers grants
management training for Federal
Aid staff and State wildlife agency
grantees. Our training courses
increase the knowledge, skills,
and abilities of State and Federal
personnel who manage Federal Aid
grants. This training helps to ensure
that Federal Aid grant managers
consistently apply the laws, rules,
and policies which govern Federal
Aid Program administration.
Approximately 300 people completed
the Basic Grants Management
Course since it was first offered in
1996. Approximately 90 people
completed the Project Leaders
Course. More than 425 students
completed courses developed by
or offered in cooperation with the
Federal Aid Training Program. The
demand for courses continues to grow.
Currently, Basic Grants Management
courses are scheduled once each year.
Since the Project Leaders Course
pilot in March 2000, interest and
demand for the State specific Federal
Aid Project Leaders Course has
grown. Six Project Leaders Courses
are scheduled for Fiscal Year 2002.
These courses are customized to
meet State’s needs and offered
upon request in cooperation with
the Training Program, the Federal
Aid Regional Office, and State
staff who are responsible for
Federal Aid grants.
Efforts to develop additional courses
for Federal Aid grant managers are
in progress. Currently a course for
Federal Aid fiscal managers and
a compliance issues course are
being developed.
The Federal Aid Training
Program also provides training
tools, resources, instructors, and
assistance in developing other grant
management training. To date, this
training has focused on grant writing
skills for the Boating Infrastructure
Grant Program, Clean Vessel
Program, and boating access grants.
Course descriptions, an on-line
application, training materials,
and grant manager’s resources
are available on Federal Aid’s
Training Program internet site
at: http://www.nctc.fws.gov/fedaid/
fatrain.htm.
13 March 2002
Appendices With the exception of the following
table (Hunter Education Section 10
Funds for FY 2001), all other
information and tables previously
found in the appendices in earlier
Program Updates are now on the
Federal Aid Home Page
where they are maintained at:
http://fa.r9.fws.gov/. Note that
this service may be temporarily
unavailable due to Department of
Interior restrictions on Internet use.
Hunter Education Section 10 Funds (Dollars) FY2001
State Apportioned Obligated
Alabama 169,260 169,259
Alaska 75,000 75,000
Arizona 195,276 195,276
Arkansas 75,000 75,000
California 225,000 225,000
Colorado 163,710 0
Connecticut 129,619 129,619
Delaware 75,000 75,000
Florida 225,000 225,000
Georgia 225,000 225,000
Hawaii 75,000 75,000
Idaho 75,000 75,000
Illinois 225,000 225,000
Indiana 225,000 225,000
Iowa 111,378 111,378
Kansas 75,000 75,000
Kentucky 153,833 153,833
Louisiana 170,093 0
Maine 75,000 75,000
Maryland 201,588 201,588
Massachusetts 225,000 225,000
Michigan 225,000 225,000
Minnesota 187,240 0
Mississippi 108,270 108,270
Missouri 212,958 212,958
Montana 75,000 75,000
Nebraska 75,000 75,000
Nevada 75,000 75,000
State Apportioned Obligated
New Hampshire 75,000 75,000
New Jersey 225,000 225,000
New Mexico 75,000 75,000
New York 225,000 225,000
North Carolina 225,000 225,000
North Dakota 75,000 75,000
Ohio 225,000 225,000
Oklahoma 131,335 114,319
Oregon 130,221 130,221
Pennsylvania 225,000 225,000
Rhode Island 75,000 75,000
South Carolina 152,701 151,760
South Dakota 75,000 75,000
Tennessee 216,538 216,538
Texas 225,000 225,000
Utah 75,000 75,000
Vermont 75,000 75,000
Virginia 225,000 225,000
Washington 224,334 224,334
West Virginia 75,000 75,000
Wisconsin 204,146 204,146
Wyoming 75,000 75,000
Puerto Rico 12,500 0
Guam 12,500 0
Virgin Islands 12,500 0
American Samoa 12,500 0
N. Mariana Islands 12,500 0
TOTAL 7,500,000 6,898,499
U.S. Department of the Interior
U.S. Fish &Wildlife Service
Division of Federal Aid
http://www.fws.gov